As it stood, he was quite relaxed, and loved the peace that he was getting as he shared the meal with the girl that he loved. Sure, he would be lying if he had said that there wasn't anything sexual between the two of them, but the truth was that it wasn't some maddening passion that caused every action to be immediately classified as 'erotic'. That was what really set a true relationship apart from simple fantasies, at least in his opinion. Lots of guys imagined what it would be like to be with a pretty girl, but the truth was that there was more than simple sex or such things that went on in a relationship. There were moments of quiet, times when they fought, and plenty of laughter.
And with a single glance that Kikuko sent her watch after lunch had gone on in a rather relaxed atmosphere, there was the second when panic and guilt made them jump. "Oh no! Look at the time. We've got to be back in class soon!"
"We're that late?" Ryonami asked with a concerned frown.
"Not really. But we'd better move it if we want to get back to the room before class starts."
"I suppose that we should get started then," Nabiki sighed.
"Oh, well.... You can stay for a little bit, I think."
"Eh? But you just said...."
"I know what I said. But I don't remember mentioning it being an immediate worry. All that I commented on was that it was getting late, and that we'd have to move soon. Not race out of here."
The married girl lowered her brows at her short haired friend. "Which I'm supposed to take as...."
"An opportunity. Spend a few moments alone with your guy. It isn't like there's much time to do it at a place like this."
"She's right about that," Ryonami allowed as she stood up and brushed off her skirt. "You two can take a little time to enjoy each other's company before you come back to class."
"See? We both will understand if you don't immediately come after us."
"Actually, the way that I figure it, you two probably should stay for a bit after we're gone."
"So there you have it. See you in a little while."
"Bye!"
"Why is it that I have the feeling that we've been set up?" Nabiki murmured as she watched her friends hurry away.
"Ya do? Why's that?" her husband asked.
"Think about it. They left us alone...."
"Yeah? So?"
"'So'? Everyone's going back to class, so that we really will be by ourselves. As in, we'll be the only two in the entire yard...."
"That's... oh."
"Exactly," she drawled, and leaned down to look him in the eye... only to bump her breasts against his face. "Oops. Sorry about that."
"No problem. Really. Oh man...."
"What's with you?"
"Other than feeling.... Ya know that it ain't exactly... relaxin' for a guy.... Well, ya know. What just happened...."
"Ah.... I understand."
"I'm glad that ya do. Man.... Ya know somethin'?" he asked as he sat up and glanced over at her.
"What?"
"It'd be so much easier if we could just... ya know, tell people that we're married. I mean, then we would just be able ta go with how things are and...."
His wife put a finger to his lips. "I know what you mean, and I've been thinking about it. To tell the truth, I wouldn't mind you moving into my room. As my husband."
"Me too, but ya got ta remember that our fathers ain't exactly clued in on us already bein' married."
"That's exactly what we'll do."
"I don't follow."
"It's really simple. We tell them the truth, that we've already gotten married," Nabiki revealed, and smirked at him.
"That... is nuts, ain't it? I mean, just comin' out and tellin' them straight out...."
"Who said anything about telling the unadulterated truth."
"But ya just said...."
"I know what I said, but you still have to learn about the advantages of telling only part of the story," she admonished him. "In this case, all that we have to do is to tell them that we're already married. But we'll tell them in a way that says to them that we married on our own after they announced their little scheme."
"And that'll help us?"
"Of course it will. They'll think that we jumped ahead of them, and got the job done, which will leave all their plans in the dust. All that they will have left is whatever ideas that they have for our wedding, and if they want a more public ceremony, I'm all for it."
"Which means that ya'll actually...." he trailed off, looking at her hopefully.
"It's entirely possible that I'll be walking down the aisle to you. And, honestly, that's something that I'd enjoy."
"Me too. But.... Won't they need proof? That we're married, I mean."
"Certainly. But a single trip to the registry office would deal with that. They'd ask to know if we're married, they'd get a confirmation, and then they'd rush to react to the news, possibly never asking for exactly when it happened."
"Then I'd be...."
"Moving into my room," Nabiki purred. "And I'd be happy to have you there, and in my bed, stud jock."
Taking in the look in his wife's eyes, Ranma gulped, but knew that even if he worried about what she might be thinking, he was aware that he'd likely enjoy whatever it was.
Tatewaki Kuno was not someone who was particularly focused on holding himself back in certain situations. To him, being a samurai meant facing one's opponents head on, and not dallying around when handling a problem. With the heavens backing him up, there should have been nothing that he could not force to act in accordance with his will.
Unfortunately, Nabiki Tendo was not a person that he could merely make do things as he saw that they should be. With her cold and calculating mind, she could come up with the sort of twists of logic that would leave him bewildered as to where they had come from. In fact, she used her keen wits as a weapon, and knew how to manipulate others to get what she wanted. However, facing her straight on would not work as she was not a martial artist, and half truths slipped past her tongue with a practiced ease.
No, if he was to rescue Ranma Saotome from the hold that her feminine wiles had placed upon him, he was going to have to outmaneuver her. But then the fates had blessed him with a keen intellect, and he was that he could act easily with subtlety. His actions would not be those of battle, but those of show and revelation. Being unable to immediately produce a more worthy woman might be a problem, but then he was sure that he could manage to find someone soon enough, if it came to that.
As it was, he had to scowl a bit as she came into their shared classroom with a small smile. She played the part of a well loved woman well, but he wasn't blind to her acting abilities. He might not hate her, but years of knowing her had given him insight into what she was. And even if she wasn't the worst person in the world, he thought it best that Saotome be weaned away from someone who would not appreciate his honorable and thoughtful behavior as it should be.
Honestly, he was so satisfied with his own certainty on the matter that he... missed recognizing the beginning of class, and had to hold himself with dignity as the teacher admonished him, while:
(Posted Sun, 29 Apr 2007 08:34)
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